Montana..........by James

Thursday 9pm Montana time…first I would like to say what an awesome experience I have had here in Montana with Vance, Cathy and the whole FBC of Seminole team.

I first say “Thanks” to Jace for allowing me to join in with them on this trip to Montana.

The people on this team have been truly amazing in the demonstration of servant’s heart mentality. I have been reading the book “Not a Fan” and God has been laying on my heart of the need for more of His children to transition between being a follower, in which most of us choose to say to being a follower which Christ has given the invitation and command to obey.

By witnessing the demonstration of this it spoke volumes on the parents who train/teach their children what it means to be a “follower” of Christ.

It speaks the effectiveness of Jace, their Youth Pastor in instructing the kids from being the norm “fan” of Christ to being a follower. I thank you for showing me this during the week.

It even spoke well of the church in their effectiveness they are having in making disciples of Christ and then in turn training them to go out and be disciple makers as well.

To see the people here on the reservation…to see the work of the Blue Church and how people here know the term…the Blue Church….and they know the place and people you are talking about is something.

To see the Tribal Council hold session and then explain to us their procedures and so forth was very enlightening.

To go into the nursing home facility and visit with Rose and sing a song to her…and then to see her smile and her eyes light up with excitement was a blessing from the Lord.

To go into the Juvenile Detention Center and see the kids who are having to stay there have hearts that at first appear to be hard.

But in reality are kids who are searching and needing someone who loves them, someone who cares for them and someone who is willing to invest time with them demonstrating this for them.

As we walked into the JDC the first time I seen kids who really wanted to fit in and by doing so the place they decided try it landed them in the detention center, and some on numerous occasions.

Some desiring to almost make this place their home because it is safer in there and gives them three square meals a day than living on the streets or back in their homes is really hard for someone like myself to imagine having to feel that way or have that desire.

One day we prayer walked around the school and felt then need to stop at their flag pole to pray for the kids that go to school there and for the teachers as they try to tech them.

I prayed that God would raise up a generation among the Native-American people.

That this generation would know the love of the Father but also embrace the love of the Son.

That they would rise up amid the persecution and shunning that they would be known as a people of God who walks in the power of the resurrected Lord.

As we walked around JDC on Wednesday I started praying as the Nation of Israel did when Joshua led them to march around the walls of Jericho, to knock down the walls.

But as I was praying God began to speak to my heart from more than just “walls falling down” but to the raising up of people with the desire for these kids.

I prayed that God would burden the hearts of people to reach out to these kids on a regular basis.

I prayed that God would add to the Blue Church to work along side of Vance and Cathy in reaching these people and especially reaching these young kids.

God showed me that Joshua did not march by himself around Jericho but yet the men of Israel marched with him.

God did not call Joshua to go at it alone but instead for the people to march together with him. Vance and Cathy are in need of people in this community…on this reservation who are willing to step up and step out for the Lord with a passion and desire to reach these people…and mostly to reach those kids in the JDC.

For people to transition from being a fan of Christ to truly being a follower of Him. People who are willing to “come after Me(Jesus), to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Him.

So I guess to some it all up is to “PRAY”. Pray for the Native American people, pray for the youth here and pray for the younger generation that are being raised up in the oppression.

But mostly to pray for people to join in the war and join in the fight…who are willing to fight the good fight of faith. People who are willing to come along side others, to come along side Vance and Cathy and stand in the gap by ministering to all that are here.

To love the people the same way the Lord has loved us, unconditional.

May we, ourselves take from this the need to be “followers” and not “fans”.

James Shelton

Loop